Coin-freed delivery machine



Jan, 2", 1936. H. c. SUMNER ET AL COIN FREED DELIVERY MACHINE 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1953 QM. Q

Jan 28, 1938. H c SUMNER Er AL 2,@29,2U5

. COIN FREED DELIVERY MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1953 5 Sheets-Shed 2 Fig.2,

I H. C'.$/MNE/3. Ff 7277.402 -F. LANG/-57. INuE/v MES Jana & H. c.SUMNER ET AL COIN FREED DELIVERY MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 3 M M M 6 %w u a m pr 4 R m Wm W n Y m m A M CJ.

Patented Jan: 28, 1936 5 ETES PTNT OFFEE Henry land Application February1,

Cecil Sumner, Vlyberton, John Taylor and Frank Langley,

and Frederick Kirton, Eng- 1933, Serial No. 654,742

In Great Britain February 2, 1932 13 Qlairns. (Cl. 194-10) Thisinvention is for a coin-freed delivery or vending machine and isconcerned with a machine having a number of positions at which coins maybe inserted and a corresponding number of positions at which goods aredelivered.

An important object oi the invention is to ensure that upon theinsertion of a coin the goods are delivered only to the correctposition. Another object of the invention is to render the machineunresponsive to the insertion of a further coin at some other positionuntil delivery has been efiected in response to the first inserted coin.

A preferred construction of machine in which these objects are attainedwill now be described in detail by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a general arrangement of themachine, and

' Figures 2 and 3 are of alternative mechanism positions.

Throughout tins description like reference numerals indicate like parts.

The machine shown in the drawings has a plurality of vending positionsat each of which there is a coin-insertion slot, which slots arenumbered Illa, Illb, etc., and an equal number of goods-deliverypositions corresponding thereto, there being a number of subsidiarydelivery chutes numbered i la, l lb, etc., which lead off from the mainchute l i, one to each vending or delivery position, and the arrangementis such that following the insertion of a coin into the coin slot at anyselected vending position only the subsidiary track which leads to thatposition is prepared to deliver goods. The machine may be said toincorporate devices responsive to the insertion of a coin at anyselected insertion position for ensuring the delivery of goods only tothe associated delivery position, and for rendering the npachineunresponsive to a further selection until after delivery, anddelivery-operated means for then rendering the machine again responsiveto selection.

It will be observed that at the mouth of each subsidiarychute there is ahinged trap-door it which is arranged to cover the mouth of that chute,and the arrangement of the machine is such that when a coin is insertedat any position the appropriate trap-door is opened so that it isinclined across the main chute i i, and a package of goods delivereddown the said main chute is deflected by the trap door into theappropriate delivery chute and is carried by the latter to the positionat which the coin was inserted. These trap-doors are worked byelectro-magnetic mechdetails of an enlarged scale at the coin-insertionanism. For each vending or delivery position there is a controlsolenoid, which solenoids are numbered i311, i317, etc., and alongsideeach solenoid there is a vertical rod M, the lower end of which iscoupled by a link l5 to a lever H5 attached to the trap-door i! of theappropriate subsidiary chute. The rod M is provided with a collar ii andis normally held in a raised position in which the trap-door is closedby means of a pivoted catch is, which catch is biassed by a spring l9 toan engaging position and is at tached by a rod 26 to the base of theplunger 2| of the associated control solenoid. When a coin is insertedin any selected coin slot III, the associated solenoid I3 is energized,through contacts and a circuit hereinafter described, and the catch I8is rocked so that the rod l4 drops and opens the appropriate trap-door12. Thus goods are delivered down the main chute, passing of necessityto the position at which the coin has been inserted. It is desirable,however, that immediately a coin has been inserted at any selectedposition and the track leading to that position has been prepared fordelivery, the machine shall be rendered unresponsive to any furtherselection until delivery has actually been efiected, otherwise it mightbe possible by inserting a coin at a second slot either to cause a jamin the machine or to cause the goods really purchased by the first cointo be delivered to the position at which the second coin is inserted. Tothis end the descent of any rod Hi serves to close a circuit through acommon solenoid 22 which operates mechanical catches to look all theother rods l4 against movement, even if the solenoids I311, I319, etc.,associated therewith are energized. To this end each rod Hi carries acontact pin 23 so placed that when the rod drops said pin makes contactwith a spring contact 2 1 and hence closes the circuit through thecommon solenoid 22. The armature 25 of the latter is therefore moved tothe left and carries with it a horizontally extending rod 26. On thisrod there are a number of pins 2'1, each of which bears against the freeend of a leaf-spring 28 attached to a pivoted catch 25, these catchesbeing so arranged that when the solenoid 22 is energized they arebiassed by their springs into positions in which they lie beneath thecollars ii on the associated rods l4 and prevent the descent of saidrods sufliciently to i open their associated trap-doors. It may bepointed out that this locking apparatus does not operate until after thetrap-door at the mouth of the selected chute has been opened.

The machine is thus rendered unresponsive to;

to render it responsive to a fresh selection immediately a delivery hasbeen eiiected. Therefore, means are provided in each track, actuated bythe passage ofgoods along said track, to break the circuit through thecommon solenoid 22 so that the armature or plunger 25 thereof moves tothe right and the spring pressure on the catches 29 is released, withthe result that these catches, by reason of the balance weights 33 withwhich they are provided, move to inoperative positions. To this endinside each subsidiary chute there is a flap 3i which is connected tothe trap door I2 of that chute, the angle between the trap-door and flapbeing approximately equal to the obtuse angle included between the mainchute and each subsidiary chute, so that when the trap-door is openedthe flap 3I projects upwards as is shown in Figure 1. Hence, when goodsare delivered down the selected subsidiary chute this flap 3| is thepassage of the goods over it and hence serves to close the trap door I2and to raise the associated rod I4, thus breaking the contacts 23, 24and breaking the circuit through the common solenoid 22, so that themachine'is again rendered responsive to a fresh selection.

It will be noticed that the catches 29 are placed somewhat lower thanthe catches I8, so that if, before delivery is completed in response toone coin-insertion or selection, a coin is inserted at another positionthe rod I4 appropriate to that position is released by its catch I8 andfalls a short distance until the collar I! on it is held by the adjacentcatch 29. From this position the rod may complete downward movement, so

that the machine responds to the fresh'select-ion, immediately deliveryhas been eifected in response to the first selection and the commonsolenoid 22 de-energized by such delivery.

The coin-receiving mechanism at each vending position and the contactswhereby the circuit is established through the appropriate solenoid I3is shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 1, but Figures 2 and 3 showalternative arrangements on a larger scale. The machine is arranged todeliver goods upon the receipt of two coins at any selected vendingposition, and referring now to the construction shown in Figure 2 thecoin insertion slot Illa leads to a main vertical coin chute 32 fromwhich a subsidiary coin chute 33 leads oiT at an angle, both or saidchutes terminating in a coin receptacle 34. Just below the branch of thetwo chutes ,there is a pivoted lever 35 having at its lower end a hook36 that projects across the main chute 32, so that the first coininserted into the slot Illa falls down and rests upon this hooked end3-5. The second inserted coin strikes the top of the first coin and isdeflected thereby down the branch chute 33, where it makes contact withan arm 3'! and in so doing establishes an electrical connection betweenthis arm and the chute 33 to complete a circuit through a solenoid 38a.This solenoid is thereby energized and its core 39 is sucked down,movement of said core serving to release the said coins so that theyfali to the receptacle 34 and also to complete the circuit through theassociated solenoid 53a, whereby the appropriate delivery chute isprepared for delivery.

It will be seen lever 35. Therefore when the core is sucked down thelever GI is rocked against its balance weight 33 and the hooked end 7any further selection but it is, oi'course, necessary 36 of the lever 35is removed from its obstructive position in the main chute 32 so thatthe first coin falls down into the receptaclet l. It will also be 7 seenthat the contact arm 3?, against which the second coin rests, is pivotedabout a pivot 44 and has attached to it an arm 45 which is connected bya depending hook 35 to the lever M, and hence as the iatter is rockedthis contact arm 31 is moved out of its obstructive position in thesubsidiary coin chute 33 and the second coin is permitted to fall downto the receptacle 34, so that the circuit is broken through the solenoid38a. That movement which breaks the circuit through the solenoid 3311,also serves to complete the circuit through the solenoid I311 so thatthe associated delivery chute is prepared for delivery, because attachedto the contact arm 31 there is a further contact arm 4'! which upon suchmovement is brought against a stationary contact 48, these twocontactsr'l, 38 being included in the circuit 01' the solenoid I3a.Immediately afterwards the solenoid plunger 39 is returned to its upperposition by the baiance weight 43 so that the lever 35 and the arm 31are returned to their obstructive positions and the circuit through thesolenoid I 3a is broken.

In the alternative arrangements shown in Figure 3 and hereinafterdescribed with reference to a second coin-insertion position, the firstcoin inserted into the slot IIlb falls down the vertical coin chute I32and comes to rest on a pivoted hook 49 and in failing it comes intoengagement with the tail portion 50 of a pivoted pawl 5I so as to swingthe said pawl on its pivot and to bring an inclined tip 52 thereof intosuch a position at the junction between the main vertical chute I32 andthe branch chute I33, as indicated in dotted iines, that a second coininserted the slot Iilb is deflected by this tip 52 down the branchchute. In its passage down the branch chute I33 the second coin falls onto the extremity of a comparatively long lever 53 and depresses saidlever until the coin falls clear of the bottom 01 the chute I33. Thesaid lever 53 is pivoted at 54 and attached to its pivot there is aninsulated block 55 carrying a spring bridge-contact member 53, which,upon depression of the lever 53 by the coin, makes contact with andbridges a pair of spaced contacts 51 and in so doing completes thecircuit of the appropriate solenoid I321. The pivot as also carries acatch 58 which, upon depression of the lever 53, pushes a pivoted pawl59 to the left and catches under the lip 01' this pawl and serves tohold the contacts 56, 51 in engagement until the delivery of the goodshas been effected, after which, through the medium of a rod 30 (which issuitably coupled to the appropriate one of l) a pivoted bell-crank-lever6| and a hook 62 which coacts with a pin 63 on the pawl 59, the saidpawl 535s pulled out of engagement with the catch 5-3. When the lever 53has been depressed by the second inserted coin the first inthe rods I 4shown in Figure serted coin is released from the hook 49 by means of anarm 65 and a coupling rod 65 which extends between said arm and the hook49, and when the hook 49 has been swung from its obstructiveposith'e'pawl 59, a counterweight -53 to its normal position anddisengages the rendering said common 66 raises the lever contacts 56,51.

Whichever of the two constructions illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 isadapted, it may be desirable to provide means whereby the attendant mayobstruct the coin slot to prevent the insertion of coins. For examplereferring now to Figure 2, there may be a pivoted arm 61 which isnormally held clear of the slot Illa but which when a chain 68 or thelike is pulled by the attendant is moved across the slot to obstruct it.

We claim:-

1. In a coin-freed or operated vending or delivery machine having aplurality of coin-insertion positions and a plurality of goods-deliverypositions corresponding thereto the combination of delivery tracksleading one to each delivery position, and electromagnetic devices forpre-- paring, upon the insertion of a coin at a selected position, thecorresponding track for delivery and for looking all other tracksagainst delivery until such delivery has been effected, which devicesare in circuit with and include contacts at each insertion position foractuating said devices upon the insertion of a coin.

2. In a coin-freed or operated vending or delivery machine having aplurality of coin-insertion positions and a plurality of goods-deliverypositions corresponding thereto the combination of delivery tracksleading one to each delivery position, coin-operated contacts at eachcoin-insertion position, electro-magnetic devices one for each position,actuatable upon such insertion to prepare the associated track fordelivery, a further electromagnetic device common to all tracks forlooking all other tracks against delivery following the preparation ofthe selected track and until delivery along said track, means actuatedfrom the selected device for rendering said common device operable, andmeans for device again inoperative subsequent to delivery along theselected track.

3. In a coin-freed or operated vending or delivery machine having aplurality of coin-insertion positions and a plurality of goedsdeliverypositions corresponding thereto the combination of delivery tracksleading one to each delivery position, coin-operated contacts at eachcoinin sertion position, electi e-magnetic devices one for eachposition, actuatable upon such insertion to prepare the associated trackfor delivery, a further electromagnetic device common to all tracks forlooking all other tracks against delivery following the preparation ofthe selected track and until delivery along said track, means actuatedfrom the selected device for rendering said common device operable, andmeans for rendering said common device again inoperative subsequent todelivery along the selected track, said means comprising a member oneach track displaceable by the passage of goods over it to break acircuit through said common device.

4. In a coin-freed or actuated delivery or vending machine having aplurality of coin-insertion positions and a plurality of goods-deliverypositions corresponding thereto the combination of a plurality ofdelivery tracks leading one to each delivery position, a plurality ofelectro-magnetic control devices, whereof one is allocated to each trackfor preparing said track for delivery upon energization of said device,for each control de-- vice contacts in circuit therewith at theappropriate coin-insertion position for energizing said device upon theinsertion of a coin at said positionja closure for each track, operatingconnections extending between each closure and the appropriate controldevice for opening said closure upon energization of said device,electromechanical means for locking, any selected control device, theoperating connections of all other devices, and means actuated bydelivery of goods down the track the closure whereof is opened asaforesaid for releasing said connections from the lock imposed by saidelectro-mechanical means.

5. In a coin-freed 0r actuated delivery or vending machine having aplurality of coin-insertion positions and a plurality of goods-deliverypositions corresponding thereto the combination of a plurality ofdelivery tracks leading one to each delivery position, a plurality ofelectro-magnetic control devices, whereof one is allocated to each trackfor preparing said track for delivery upon energization of said device,for each control device contacts in circuit therewith at the appropriate coin-insertion position for energizing said device upon theinsertion of a coin at said position, a closure for each track,operating connections extending between each closure and the appropriatecontrol device for opening said closure upon energization of saiddevice, electro-mechanical means for locking, upon the energization ofany selected control device, the operating connections of all otherdevices, a flap in each track which flap is movable upon the passage ofgoods over it, connections between each flap and the closure of thattrack for closing the latter upon such movement of the flap, andconnections between each flap and the said electro-mechanical means forrendering the latter inoperative upon such movement.

6. In a coin-freed vending machine having a plurality of coininsertionpositions and a plurality of goods-delivery positions correspondingthereto the combination of a plurality of delivery chutes leading one toeach delivery position, a movable trap-door for opening and closing eachchute, in each chute a movable flap connected to the trap-door thereoffor closing the latter upon delivery of goods down said chute, aplurality of movable trap-opening members connected one to eachtrap-door and flap, a. plurality of electromagnetic control devicesallocated one to each said trap-opening member and each coin-insertionand delivery position and each operable upon energization to permit theassociated member to make an opening movement, means for selectivelyenergizing any one of said control devices, said means comprising foreach control device contacts at the associated coin-insertion positionmovable upon the insertion of a coin to complete a circuit through saidcontrol device, an electromagnetic locking device, means for energizingsaid locking device upon opening movement of any selected trap-openingmember, a plurality of locking mechanisms movable by said locking deviceupon energization thereof to look all other trap-opening members againstopening movement, and means operated by the movement of the selectedflap consequent upon the delivery of goods over it to de-energize thelocking device and thereby to release said locking mechanism.

7. In a coin-freed delivery or vending machine having a plurality ofcoin-insertion or vending positions, a plurality of delivery tracksleading from a common source one to each position, and devices operableupon the insertion of two coins at any selected position for effectingdelivery of goods only to the position whereat the coins were upon theenergization of inserted, the combination, at each coin-insertionposition, of a main coin chute, a branch chute diverging therefrom,removable means for temporarily arresting the first inserted coin withinthe main chute at a position below the fork between the two chutes,means operating by the detention of the first coin in said position todivert a second inserted coin down the branch chute, and means operableby the coin in the branch chute for calling into operation the aforesaiddevices and for releasing both coins.

8. In a coin-freed delivery or vending machine having a number ofcoin-insertion positions and delivery positions corresponding theretoand operable upon the insertion of two coins at any selected insertionposition the combination with a plurality of delivery tracks leading oneto each delivery position, of the following mechanism at eachcoin-insertion position, a main coinchute, a branch chute divergingtherefrom, means for temporarily arresting the first inserted coin inthe main chute below the fork between the two chutes, said arrested coinserving to deflect the second inserted coin into the branch chute, meansoperated by said second coin for preparing for goods-delivery only thetrack associated with said insertion-position, and means for releasingthe first coin.

9. In the combination claimed in claim 8, the provision at eachcoin-insertion position of a catch interposed in the main chute forarresting the first coin but removable from its obstructive position torelease said coin, an electromagnet, coin-operated means for energizingsaid electromagnet upon the entry of the second coin into the branchchute, means operable by said electromagnet for preparing thecorresponding delivery track for delivery, and means operable by saidelectromagnet for temporarily withdrawing the catch from the main chute.

10. In a vending machine having a plurality of vending and deliverylocations at each of which is a token receiving means constructed toreceive identical tokens and to be responsive thereto; a plurality ofmaterial delivery tracks leading from a common source, one to each suchlocation, and means operable directly by identical means such as tokensby a vendee at any selected delivery location for'effecting delivery ofgoods only at such location.

11. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of vending and deliverystations, the combination of a common track along which the goods to bevended pass from a common store, a plurality of branch tracks leadingfrom the common track individually to the respective vending anddelivery stations, means for directing the passage sembled group forcontrolling the movements of said directing m'eans, token actuated meansat each vending and delivery station constructed to be operated byidentical tokens, means between the individual token actuated means andthe individual control means by which the latter are actuated upon theinsertion of a token to cause the control means for the track to thestation where the token is inserted to be operated, and a common meansfor locking all the other control devices whenever one of them isactuated by the token operated means until delivery of the goods to thebranch track has been effected.

12. In a coin-operated vending machine having a plurality ofcoin-insertion positions, a store for vendable goods, and mechanism forwithdrawing quantities of goods from said store, the combination of aplurality of delivery tracks leading one to each coin-insertion positionand devices operable upon the insertion of a coin at any position to setsaid mechanism in operation and to deliver the goods only to thatposition whereat the coin was inserted, including electric contacts ateach coin-insertion position arranged to be closed by the insertion of acoin, a plurality of electro-magnets, allocated one to each coin-'insertion position and each controlling the delivery track to theposition with which the said electro-magnet is associated, eachelectro-magnet being operable upon the insertion of a coin at theappropriate position to prepare the delivery track for delivery to suchposition.

13; In a coin freed or operating vending machine including a store forvendablegoods, and mechanism for withdrawing quantities of goods' fromsaid store, and having a plurality of coininserting positions at whichare located means constructed to receive identical coins and operativelyrespond thereto, the combination of a plurality of delivery tracksleading one to each coininsertion position, closure means forcontrolling the entrance to the individual tracks, devices operable uponthe insertion of a coin at any position to control the closure means forthe track individual to that coin-insertion position so as to deliverthe goods to that position whereat the coin was inserted, and meansoperable, upon the preparation of any track for delivery operation, tolock all other tracks against use until delivery to the selectedposition has been effected.

H. C. SUMNER. F. J. TAYLOR. FRANK LANGLEY.

